STANFORD, Calif. – Derek Byrnes has rounded out his staff with the additions of Antonella Kugler and Molly Milligan as assistant coaches, the Farwell Family Director of Women’s Rowing announced Thursday. Alongside Alben Family Associate Head Women’s Rowing Coach Molly Hamrick and assistant coach Maegan Neihart, Kugler and Milligan complete Byrnes’ newly expanded women’s rowing coaching staff for the 2025 season.
“Over the last few years, the Stanford Rowing community and Stanford athletic department have shown such great support to our Women’s Rowing program– first through the generosity of the Alben Family in endowing our Associate Head Coach position, held by Molly Hamrick; and then this past summer, with the Farwell Family endowing our Director of Women’s Rowing position,” Byrnes said. “Most recently, the athletic department has expanded our coaching staff allowing us to better instruct and enrich the Stanford student-athlete experience. I am beyond thrilled that we can add both Antonella Kugler and Molly Milligan to our coaching staff.”
Kugler joined the Cardinal in the Fall of 2022 as an assistant coach for the lightweight women’s rowing program and now enters her third year on The Farm. 2025 marks her first season with the women's rowing program after two years as the lightweight rowing program's assistant coach.
“I have had the opportunity to personally observe Antonella’s growth as a coach over the last two years,” noted Byrnes. “She is someone of great character, high standards and an uncompromising work ethic. In her short time working with our Lightweight Rowing program she helped elevate their performance, brought a palpable energy to the program and personally coached the Lightweight program’s 4+ boat to an IRA Championship last year.”
Kugler put her stamp on the lightweight program in her two seasons with the team, lightweight program to a national title with the varsity four boat and second-place finish in the team points race at the IRA Championships. In her first year with the Cardinal, Kugler coached the Lightweight Varsity 4+ boat to a top finish at the WIRA Championship and a sixth-place effort at the 2023 IRA Championships.
“I am elated to continue my coaching career as an Assistant Coach and Coxswain Coach for Stanford Women’s Rowing,” Kugler stated. “The Cardinal’s rowers and coxswains are an elite squad of women pursuing academic, athletic, and personal excellence. I am most looking forward to growing and learning in a dynamic organization of champions. Thank you to Derek Byrnes for this incredible opportunity and Molly Hamrick for her steadfast mentorship. Go Card & Row Card!”
Milligan comes to The Farm after two seasons as an assistant coach with the Navy’s women’s rowing team. Milligan boasts collegiate rowing experience as a student-athlete and a coach, spending four years with Princeton’s program during her undergraduate education and coaching for the Wisconsin Badgers as a graduate assistant for the 2021 and 2022 seasons before heading to Navy.
“Years ago, we attempted to recruit Molly Milligan to Stanford but unfortunately, we lost out,” Byrnes writes. “Now nine years later, we finally secured Molly’s commitment to The Farm. Molly has a high level of racing experience, is an extremely hard worker and comes highly recommended by her coaching peers. I could tell during the interview process that she has that rowing bug and enjoys the grind, so she is going to fit right in here at the Farm.”
In her two campaigns with the Mids, Milligan coached the lower boats and aided in the program's effort to return to the top of the Patriot League standings, winning the Patriot League Championship in 2023, leading to 2023 CRCA Region 2 Co-Staff of the Year honors. In 2024, Navy completed their season with a runner-up finish at the Patriot League Championships, highlighted by second-place finishes in the V8 and V4.
During her time in Madison, Milligan aided the Badgers to a fourth-place finish at the 2021 Big Ten Championships and a 14th-place national finish in the same season. In 2022, the Badgers finished sixth in the Big Ten after racing a top-flight schedule throughout the season.
"I am so excited to join the current staff at Stanford,” said Milligan. “I can not wait to work alongside and learn from Derek, Molly, Maegan, and Antonella. It will be awesome to help such a committed and hard-working group of athletes continue to gain speed, all while returning to my Northern California roots!"